In rural areas, most of the sedans for rent were used for wedding ceremonies. Just as for the bridal sedans in urban areas, it also took four people to carry this type of sedan. During a grand ceremony, two more people walked ahead of the band -- one holding a ritualistic umbrella and the other in charge of the fireworks.

However, the most exquisite occasion required 16-20 people: eight to carry the sedan; one to hold a lantern, usually bearing the host's surname; and the others to hold an even number of hexagonal palace lanterns in front and behind the sedan. Sometimes, another person would also play the gong to clear the way.

On the wedding day, before the groom sent a party to escort his bride to his home, the bridal sedan would be displayed outside the groom's house. This was called "sedan display". When it was time to leave, an oil lamp from the sacrifice table was placed inside the sedan for a while to drive away evil spirits. This was called "lightening the sedan". When the sedan arrived at the bride's home, the bride's mother would walk her daughter to the sedan along the red carpet. At the groom's house, the bride had to walk over a fire basin before she could join her new family. This symbolized that the young couple's new life together would be as prosperous and as powerful as the burning fire.

  Sedan Story

As a very luxurious vehicle, the sedan was mainly used by the rich in ancient China. Poor people had to rely on donkeys or their feet to travel. It was therefore considered a great privilege to travel in a sedan instead of a horse or noisy donkey. It was only on special occasions, such as weddings, that villagers used sedans to transport the bride to the groom's house. However, there is a story about how common people started the sedan tradition at wedding ceremonies.

It is said that the story has something to do with the great and powerful Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), who was a very diligent emperor. It is believed that he made seven inspection tours to the far south of China and that the story emerged during his third journey.

One day, when Emperor Qianlong and his men were marching through the mountains, suddenly, a guide reported that the march was being held up by a group of people. So, the emperor got out of his sedan and walked to the front of the procession to see what was the matter.

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